Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas

CDC, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to Maradol papayas (outbreak notice in English and Spanish). As of August 18, 173 cases have been reported from 21 states, 58 ill people have been hospitalized, and one person from New York City died. Among 135 people with available information, 91 (67%) are of Hispanic ethnicity. CDC and FDA are advising consumers not to eat Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm located in Mexico. These papayas are sold under different brand names.

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas

Posted August 18, 2017 9:45 AM ET

What's New?

Thirty-four more ill people from 11 states were added to this investigation since the last case count update on August 11, 2017.
Two more states have reported ill people: Missouri and Tennessee.
This outbreak now includes four different types of Salmonella: Kiambu, Thompson, Agona, and Gaminara. The same strain of these types of Salmonella were found in samples collected from papayas and from ill people.
CDC and FDA continue to advise consumers not to eat Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm located in Mexico. These papayas are sold under multiple brand names.

Highlights

Read the Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers >>
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections.
This outbreak includes four different types of Salmonella: Kiambu, Thompson, Agona, and Gaminara. The same strain of these types of Salmonella were found in samples collected from papayas and from ill people.
A total of 173 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Kiambu (51), Salmonella Thompson (111), Salmonella Agona (7), or Salmonella Gaminara (4) have been reported from 21 states.
- Fifty-eight ill people have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York City.
Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico are the likely source of this multistate outbreak.
- At this time, Caribeña, Cavi, and Valery brand papayas from Mexico have been identified as brands produced by this farm.
- Companies have voluntarily recalled several brands of papayas.
- FDA is working to identify any other brands of papayas that may have originated from the Carica de Campeche farm.
CDC recommends that consumers not eat, restaurants not serve, and retailers not sell Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico.
- If you aren’t sure if the papaya you bought is a Maradol papaya from the Carica de Campeche farm, ask the place of purchase. Restaurants and retailers can ask their suppliers.
- When in doubt, don’t eat, sell, or serve papayas; just throw them out.
- Wash and sanitize countertops as well as drawers or shelves in refrigerators where Maradol papayas were stored.
This investigation is ongoing. CDC will provide updates when more information is available.

August 18, 2017

Introduction

Since the last update on August 11, 2017, 34 more ill people were added to this investigation from 11 states.

As of August 16, 2017, 173 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Kiambu (51), Salmonella Thompson (111), Salmonella Agona (7), or Salmonella Gaminara (4) have been reported from 21 states. A list of the states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Case Count Map page.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 17, 2017 to July 31, 2017. Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 95, with a median age of 38. Some information is not available for all of the ill people. Among 169 ill people, 101 (60%) are female. Among 135 people, 91 (67%) are of Hispanic ethnicity. Among 136 people, 58 (43%) have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York City.

Illnesses that occurred after July 18, 2017, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.

Investigation Update

As was reported in the update on August 4, FDA tested other papayas imported from Mexico and isolated several types of Salmonella bacteria, including Salmonella Agona, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Gaminara, Salmonella Thompson, and SalmonellaSenftenberg. Investigators compared pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole genome sequencing results of Salmonella isolates from the papayas to isolates from ill people in the CDC PulseNet database. CDC has now identified 11 people infected with the same strains of either Salmonella Agona (7) or Salmonella Gaminara (4). These 11 illnesses have been added to the case count for this outbreak. Among 5 for whom information was available, all 5 (100%) reported eating or possibly eating papayas in the week before becoming ill.

This investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided when more information is available.